Undergraduate Course: The Third Reich in Literature and Testimony (ELCG10025)
Course Outline
School | School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
Summary | Students will read German-language texts by perpetrators and victims of the Nazi genocide (or their descendants on both sides), exploring the ways in which writers positioned themselves, or were forced to position themselves, in relation to their experiences and to their generational trauma or legacy. Students will assess the different ways in which these texts have been interpreted in the post-war world. |
Course description |
The course is designed to encourage students to consider witness texts from different angles, comparing perpetrator and victim perspectives and understanding the influence of language, genre and context in memory texts. In the first half of the semester, we look at two well known texts, looking closely at the context of composition and investigating the contrasting narrative strategies. In the second half, we explore different statements, asking questions about how the framing of a testimony affects the way in which events are narrated.
Assessment is by essay and group presentation. Participation will consist of ALGs developing themes from the classes and working towards their group presentations at the end; they will also regularly review the work of the other groups and compare results. The aim is to develop a resource of material, references and questions to help the others
The module uses Learn as the basis for ALG work. The student presentations are in class.
Primary texts:
Short clips of Abraham Bomba testimony for week 1
(provided on LEARN via BoB)
Max Czollek: Desintegration. Ein Manifest (provided on LEARN)
Ruth Klüger: weiter leben
Peter Weiss: Die Ermittlung
Mirna Funk: Winternähe
Nora Krug: Heimat
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
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Co-requisites | |
Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Only open to German Honours Students. |
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand and reflect critically on approaches to testimonial and literary writing arising from the Third Reich and the Holocaust.
- Read and analyse texts using theories of witnessing, autobiography and memory in historical context, assessing the theories critically, and show a clear appreciation of the features of texts by victims and perpetrators.
- Produce clear, well organised and critically reflective work, which develops arguments both critically and systematically with the use of relevant emphases, subsidiary points, and examples.
- Demonstrate clear communication, presentation and interaction skills, reflecting on the usefulness of materials for fellow students.
- Exercise autonomy and initiative, taking responsibility for the work of others in group work.
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Reading List
Short clips of Abraham Bomba testimony for week 1
Max Czollek: Desintegration. Ein Manifest
Ruth Klüger: weiter leben
Peter Weiss: Die Ermittlung
Mirna Funk: Winternähe
Nora Krug: Heimat |
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
Keywords | DELC Third Reich |
Contacts
Course organiser | Dr Hanna Schumacher
Tel: (0131 6)50 3670
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Craig Adams
Tel: (0131 6)50 3646
Email: |
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